Hello, i just found one of these decks yesterday with the same problem. The deck loads a disc correctly, but cannot read the TOC (doesnt display the title or track number)
The hissing sound is actually the sound of the laser lens vibrating in a unfocussed manner
The solution: 1.Use a minidisc lens cleaner if available.2.If not, eject the minidisc and open the deck. Take a good look at the laser lens. Is it dusty or seems hazed over (cigarette fumes)? (Mine was)
If yes, clean the laser lens directly with a cotton swab to which you add a drop of isopropylene (100% alcohol) or (2nd best choice) window cleaner.
Take care to not bend of break the recording head (the white and copper arm just above the lens)
use a dry cotton swab to pick up any remaning humidity on the lens.
3. Try again to read a disc. any success? No? try, if available, a pre-recorded disc
any sucess then? Chances are it might work with a pre-recorded disc because of the better reflectivity of these discs.
No luck yet? Doest it read some discs, others not? well, it's time to re-adjust the deck. The service manual is available here:
http://www.minidisc.org/manuals/sony/service/sony_MDS-JE520_service_manual.pdf for free. BTW the site
www.Minidisc.org is an exellent source of all information available about minidisc.
First let the deck tell you what the problem is! Page 2 explains how to enter the self-diagnosis mode. Enter the Error DP (display) mode. Look at the error history. Most probably you will find the code E06 (as i did) which means Focus error.
The service manual explains how to enter Adjust mode.
Keep an eye on the C1 error 7350= doesnt read correctly 0-50=adjustment ok.
Do C(ontinous)-play checking: 5-6-5 MO error rate check (Page 38)
Perform focus bias adjust (page 41) (5-12) This is a manual adjustment Keep an eye on the C1 error 7350= doesnt read correctly 0-50=adjustment ok.
Keep in mind that you have to adust the setting "A" with the AMS button to obtain C1=220, and "B" turning the AMS button downwards (anti-clockwise) to obtain C1=220 the deck calculates automaticaly the adjustment "C".
Perform autogain control level output adjustment for MO discs
(page 42) (5-15-2)
If this doesn't work, reset the deck to initial settings / Initial setting of adustment settings (page 39).
Perform focus bias adjust (page 41) again (the deck displays the adress and C-1 and ADER errors)
Check if the adjustment is ok with C-play checking 5-6-5
Perform autogain control level output adjustment for MO discs
(page 42) again (5-15-2)
MO-disc= recordable MD
Hopefully you can re-adjust your deck. You don't need any extra tools for this, the deck displays the error rate. In C-play mode, a pre-recorded disc shows nearly always 0 C-1 errors, a recorded disc should not show more than 50 C-1 errors and no ADER errrors.
Of course this is at your own risk. I can only say that i needed about 1 hour to find the setting which worked with different recorded discs.
There is also the Continuous recording mode to check that the error rater during recording stay within tolerance. If you use this mode bear in mind that the disc will be (partially) erased regardless if fully or partially recorded. In test mode there is no safeguard against accidentaly erasing, so use a new disc or one with a recording you don't care to loose.
Simply unplug the deck to exit the service mode.
Check if you can record after adjusting the focus. Check if you can enter a title to the disc. Is the title there when you eject and reload the disc? If yes, you succeded!
Hope this helps!
P.S. Yes, i once was working for Sony as a repair techncian...
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